Mohler wrote the post in response to a book entitled, The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America by Stefani Syman where he publicly explored the relationship between yoga and American Christian culture. Mohler goes on to say, “I’m really surprised by the depth of the commitment to yoga found on the part of many who identify as Christians.”

It’s really interesting that Dr. Mohler would be surprised by the depth of commitment to yoga on the part of just about anyone who has a regular practice. Yoga is a deeply personal experience for many so the words of Dr. Mohler seem more like a personal attack rather than a logical argument on the benefit or harmful effects of yoga.

Personally, I find Dr. Mohler’s statements oddly out of sync with the yoga I know and teach. I grew up in the Baptist church and the God I prayed to on the church pew growing up is still the same. Yoga doesn’t negate the concept of the spiritual practice of prayer, the morals taught in Sunday school or the religion I grew up with. In fact, anyone who reads the yamas, the niyamas and practices meditation will find the words and practices strikingly similar. They are, in fact, similar to many religions.

One can’t help wonder what the motivation is for these types of words from a man who carries one of the largest seminaries in the world and who Time Inc has called, “the reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the US” and who is a sought after columnist and commentator on some of the nation’s leading newspapers. Is it fear or is it simply a misunderstanding of something Dr. Mohler has never personally experienced?

In the meantime, Dr. Mohler is sticking to his original statements and saying that the numerous emails, calls and letters he’s gotten in protest of his statements are proof that he was correct in his assessment. “Sadly,” he says, “almost every protest email makes my point better than I ever could myself.”

As Patanjali teaches us in the yoga sutras, having compassion for our fellow human beings is of utmost importance – compassion for those who are on the same spiritual path and those who aren’t.

While we have our differences, we are all on the same journey of being human. As a species, we are capable of making grand discoveries, experiencing spiritual illumination, understanding the depth and healing power of love all the whilst making judgments, accusations and false statements from narrow mindedness. We are perfectly, imperfect.

There are 5 comments so far

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject. I too see the similarities more than the differences. What I would like to know is why Mohler himself hasn’t addressed the theological and biblical issues. I’m not sure of any book in the bible that addresses yoga one way or the other.

Yoga is about experiencing the living body and taking refuge in the present moment. It is incompatible with a theology that holds negative views about the body and denies the present in favor of future paradise.

In 1989 Pope John Paul erroneously condemned the spiritual dangers deriving from Eastern methods of contemplative meditation used in yoga and Zen Buddhism.

I found JP views quite hypocritical given he had previously shared the same stage at a religious unity function with my friend Sw Satchidananda (who visited New Zealand in 1979 conducting Yoga workshops at one of my Nambassa festivals).

This is a true sticking point with me. This delayed my journey into yoga for a very long time. As a christian, one who would rather be shot than re- nounce, you would just have to know me to know the positive difference yoga has made in my life, in these last 4 beautiful years. Not unlike a athlete going through sports psychology, I have learned tools for breathing, flexibility, and focus. Yoga is my B.F.F.

Its been my experince that religion has a closed mind to any other teachings. Juses said the body counts for nothing the words he spoke were sprite and truth.yoga is helpful to the body,meditation helps the mind.So i think it cant hurt the sprite at all.I have been hit with yoga as a religion for years and that it conflicts with my christian believes i gave in and was unhappy.CLOSED minded people can go to church and just leave me alone,I had enough .I am old and divorced and i need my yoga for my heart.yoga makes my life a little better unlike hearing the harping of somone who always looks for faults in others.

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